Vertically varying nautical mooring device

ABSTRACT

A vertically varying nautical mooring device for automatically adjusting the vertical positioning of a floating vessel relative to a rise or fall in the local water level. The devices provide a vertically adjusting mooring device for a floating vessel comprising a pair of horizontally extending attachment brackets for supporting at least one elongated vertical support shaft at some distance from a support structure (such as a piling) wherein the support shaft is suspended in a vertical orientation between the attachment brackets and wherein a generally toroidally and symmetrically shaped slide which fits about the elongated vertical support shaft such that the slide is able to rotate about and move vertically along the elongated vertical support shaft.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a nautical device which can be utilized to protect a vessel from damage when tides, waves or wind cause a rise/drop in the local water level and more particularly to a novel boat mooring device which allows a moored boat to rise and fall with waves or tides while maintaining proper tension on the lines that hold the boat to the mooring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various manmade and naturally occurring phenomenon such as tides, waves (both wind grown and current driven), and wakes are constantly changing the local water levels in and around floating moored vessels. Such phenomenon have always presented difficulties in mooring boats (and other vessels) to a stationary land mass or artificial support.

As each of these events can have a dramatic impact on the local water level and, if adequate precautions aren't made, significant risk of injury to the vessel and those in or around the vessel can occur. Boaters typically attempt to allow a given amount of slack in their dock lines in order to accommodate for such water level fluctuations. Unfortunately, by allowing slack in the dock lines to allow for vertical movement of the vessel, it also necessarily allows for unwanted horizontal movement of the vessel which can result in damage to the vessel shifts too far as well as damage to the support structure to which the vessel is moored. What is needed is a simple and effective device which will allow the boat to rise/fall with the local water level without need for constant adjustment by a person and without allowing undesired lateral movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a novel vertically varying nautical mooring device which allows a floating vessel to move vertically with changes in tides, waves, winds and other forces without need of adjusting the lines holding the vessel in place. The devices may be constructed to various dimensions and configurations to fit into a multitude of locations. The present invention provides a vertically varying nautical mooring device which is particularly suitable for marinas, docks, shipyards and other shoreline areas.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vertically varying nautical mooring device comprises at least one elongated vertical support shaft, a first horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to a support structure for extending therefrom and the first horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a second horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to the support structure for extending therefrom and the second horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a buckle which fits about the elongated vertical support shaft such that the slide is able to rotate about the elongated vertical support shaft and to move vertically along the elongated vertical support shaft, a first vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to the elongated vertical support shaft, a second vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to the elongated vertical support shaft, and wherein the at least one elongated vertical support shaft is connected to the first horizontally extending attachment bracket at a first end of the at least one elongated vertical support shaft and the at least one elongated vertical support shaft is connected to the second horizontally extending attachment bracket at a second end of the at least one elongated vertical support shaft and the vertical constraints work in concert to restrain the elongated vertical support shaft from vertical movement.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vertically varying nautical mooring device comprises at least one elongated vertical support shaft having at least one hole therethrough, a first horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to a support structure for extending therefrom and the first horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a second horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to the support structure for extending therefrom and the second horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a first vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to the elongated vertical support shaft, a second vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to the elongated vertical support shaft, and wherein the at least one elongated vertical support shaft is supported by the first horizontally extending attachment bracket at a first end of the at least one elongated vertical support shaft and the at least one elongated vertical support shaft is connected to the second horizontally extending attachment bracket at a second end of the at least one elongated vertical support shaft and wherein at least one of the first vertical constraint and the second vertical constraint is at least partially received in the hole to engage the elongated vertical support shaft and the vertical constraints work in concert to restrain the elongated vertical support shaft from vertical movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for securing a vessel on a body of water;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-D illustrate front and side views of exemplary embodiment bracket portions of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-D illustrate side views of exemplary elongated vertical support shafts and/or vertical constraint portions of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A-B illustrate side views of exemplary elongated vertical support shafts and/or vertical constraint portions of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To promote an understanding of the principles of the present invention, descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention follow and specific language is used to describe the specific embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by the use of specific language. Alterations, further modifications, and such further applications of the principles of the present invention discussed are contemplated as would normally occur to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for securing a vessel on a body of water. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3A-D illustrate front and side views of exemplary embodiment bracket portions of the present invention. FIGS. 4A-D illustrate side views of exemplary elongated vertical support shafts and/or vertical constraint portions of the present invention. FIGS. 5A-B illustrate side views of exemplary elongated vertical support shafts and/or vertical constraint portions of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of exemplary vertically varying nautical mooring devices 10 for securing a vessel 30 on a body of water 40. In this embodiment, vessel 30 is secured to a plurality of support structures/pilings 50 by way of ropes 60 and several exemplary vertically varying nautical mooring devices 10 each connected to a respective piling 50. In this exemplary embodiment, when the water level 70 rises/falls, ropes 60 may also rise/fall because of their relationship with vertically varying nautical mooring devices 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Illustrated is an exemplary vertically varying nautical mooring device 10 including buckle/slide 12, an elongated vertical support shaft 14, first horizontally extending attachment bracket 16, second horizontally extending attachment bracket 18, first vertical constraint 20, second vertical constraint 22 and attachment bolts 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, rope 60 is connected at a first end 62 to buckle/slide 12 and at a second end to vessel 30. Buckle/slide 12, and thereby rope 60, is free to move vertically along elongated vertical support shaft 14 as water level 70 changes. In most embodiments, first horizontally extending attachment bracket 16 is positioned above the high water mark for the local water level. In some embodiments, second horizontally extending attachment bracket 18 is positioned above the high water mark for the local water level, whereas in other embodiments, second horizontally extending attachment bracket 18 may be positioned below the high water mark for the local water level.

In this embodiment, elongated vertical support shaft 14 is held at a lateral distance away from the support structure (piling 50 in the illustrated embodiment). The lateral distance may be any suitable distance. In some embodiments the lateral distance is greater than two inches. In other embodiments, the lateral distance is great than four inches.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate side and front views, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment horizontally extending attachment bracket 16, 18 having one or more holes/slots. This exemplary embodiment horizontally extending attachment bracket 16, 18 has a vertical portion 82 and a horizontal portion 84. In the illustrated embodiment, horizontal portion 84 has at least one hole 88 therethrough to allow elongated vertical support shaft 14 to pass therethrough. Note that although illustrated with a single hole 88 through horizontal portion 84, some embodiments may have multiple holes such that the positioning of the elongated vertical support shaft 14's lateral distance from the support structure may be varied. Further, vertical portion 82 may have any number of holes/slots 86 therethrough to facilitate attaching horizontally extending attachment bracket 16, 18 to a support structure. In the illustrated embodiment, two holes 86 are located in vertical portion 82 such that screws, lag screws, or bolts (or other means of attachment) may be inserted through the holes to attach the bracket to a support structure. Note that in some embodiments, there is no need for holes as any number of other means may be utilized to attach horizontally extending attachment brackets 16, 18 to a support structure including, but not limited to, bonding, welding, and gluing. Also illustrated in FIGS. 3A-B are primary top horizontal surface 90 and primary bottom horizontal surface 92 of horizontally extending attachment brackets 16, 18.

FIGS. 3C-3D illustrate side and front views, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment horizontally extending attachment bracket 16, 18 having one or more holes/slots.

Essential to vertically varying nautical mooring device 10 is the ability to limit vertical movement of elongated vertical support shaft 14 relative to a piling or other support structure. In some embodiments, this limitation of movement may be accomplished by welding or otherwise permanently affixing elongated vertical support shaft 14 to one or more of horizontally extending attachment bracket 16, 18. In other embodiments, there may be one or more threaded portions of elongated vertical support shaft 14 such that one or more nuts may be threaded onto elongated vertical support shaft 14 to limit the vertical movement. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a first vertical constraint 20 may be a nut and second vertical constraint 22 may also be a nut. One potential advantage of situating both vertical constraints 20, 22 in proximity to horizontally extending attachment bracket 16 is that installation of the device may be easier and the device may be installed at or near the top of elongated vertical support shaft 14 rather than having to affix a vertical constraint at both the upper and lower horizontally extending attachment brackets. Note that if both vertical constraints 20, 22 are positioned proximate to a single horizontally extending attachment bracket, the other end of the elongated vertical support shaft need not be constrained at the other horizontally extending attachment bracket though the bracket will still hold the elongated vertical support shaft at a horizontal distance from the support structure.

In other embodiments, there may be more than one threaded portion for affixing nuts to elongated vertical support shaft 14. In yet other embodiments, the entire elongated vertical support shaft 14 may be threaded. One possible advantage to multiple threaded portions is that the device may be adjusted for a given installation. In still other embodiments, horizontally extending attachment brackets 16, 18 may themselves be threaded such that the bracket(s) may fixedly hold a threaded elongated vertical support shaft 14 in position.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary embodiment elongated vertical support shaft 14 which may be constructed independent of, or unitary with, a vertical constraint 20, 22. Such vertical constraint may be a mushroomed portion of elongated vertical support shaft 14, a flange portion, a flange portion such as vertical constraint 20, 22 which is welded or otherwise connected to elongated vertical support shaft 14 or otherwise. Note that such a flanged or mushroomed portion of elongated vertical support shaft 14 may be at any suitable point along elongated vertical support shaft 14 including at or near an end of elongated vertical support shaft 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 4A-D. In some embodiments, a threaded portion of elongated vertical support shaft 14 may be included with a flanged portion to permit use of a nut (or other means) to be screwed onto shaft 14 as a second vertical constraint 20, 22 such as illustrated in FIGS. 4B-4C.

In another embodiment, such as that illustrated in FIG. 4D, one or more holes may pass through elongated vertical support shaft 14 such that a hair pin, cotter pin or other component may be inserted into and/or through such a hole as and extend at least partly out of such a hole such that the hair pin, cotter pin, or other component is a vertical constraint limiting vertical movement of elongated vertical support shaft 14.

Note that in any of the herein described embodiment, any number of washers 23 may also be utilized (such as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5A-5B.

FIG. 5A illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, elongated vertical support shaft 14 may have any number of holes 21 therethrough for receiving at least a portion of a vertical constraint(s). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A, there are at least two holes 21 in elongated vertical support shaft 14 and a vertical constraint 20, 22, for example a hairpin, may be at least partially received in such hole(s) 21. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, two hairpins (i.e., vertical constraints 20, 22) may be inserted through holes 21 and the hairpins may constrain elongated vertical support shaft 14. Note that although illustrated with hairpins, any number of other devices and shapes may be used including, but not limited to, screws, hairpins, cotter pins, bolts, clips, and nails. Further, such vertical constraints may be of any suitable material and may be rigid or flexible.

Note that although buckle/slide 12 is illustrated in some embodiments as being donut or toroidally shaped, it may be of any suitable configuration so long as it is able to rotate about elongated vertical support shaft 14. Such shapes include, but are not limited to, washers, disks, toroidal shapes, square, rectangular, elliptical, and round. Further, buckle/slide 12 may be symmetrically shaped or otherwise. In one embodiment, buckle/slide 12 is toroidally shaped. In another embodiment, buckle/slide 12 may be generally toroidal but having an additional protrusion(s) therefrom. In some embodiments, buckle/slide 12 may have one or more associated clips for convenient attachment of dock lines, etc.

Vertically varying nautical mooring devices of the present invention may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, stainless steel, plastic, wood, aluminum, metal, carbon fiber, ceramics, acrylics, acrylic glasses, glass, concrete and rubber. Vertically varying nautical mooring devices of the present invention may be made of any suitable dimensions and thicknesses. For example, vertically varying nautical mooring devices may be shaped to attach to any suitable structure or surface including, but not limited to, pilings, docks, buildings, bridges, and walls including those made of materials including, but not limited to, wood, concrete, steel, and aluminum. In some embodiments, elongated vertical support shaft may have a predetermined length.

Although various components of the present invention may be illustrated as being of a particular shape for convenience, such components may be of any suitable shape, configuration, orientation, etc. Further, any number of additional components may be added to a particular embodiment to accommodate a particular need, including, but not limited to, the addition of one or more grommets, washers, gaskets or other spacing means between two or more of the components of the invention such as between the various brackets and a support structure or between the various brackets and the elongated vertical support shaft.

Note that there may be possible advantages of sloping or cutting away part of the material of one or more components, i.e., to utilize less material, or to decrease the weight of the device. As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize, some advantage can be gained in using less material, but some minimum of material must be maintained to provide sufficient structural integrity for the device to be useful.

While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. 

1. A vertically varying nautical mooring device, said device comprising: at least one elongated vertical support shaft, a first horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to a support structure for extending therefrom and said first horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a second horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to said support structure for extending therefrom and said second horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a buckle which fits about said elongated vertical support shaft such that said slide is able to rotate about said elongated vertical support shaft and to move vertically along said elongated vertical support shaft, a first vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to said elongated vertical support shaft, a second vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to said elongated vertical support shaft, and wherein said at least one elongated vertical support shaft is connected to said first horizontally extending attachment bracket at a first end of said at least one elongated vertical support shaft and said at least one elongated vertical support shaft is connected to said second horizontally extending attachment bracket at a second end of said at least one elongated vertical support shaft and said vertical constraints work in concert to restrain said elongated vertical support shaft from vertical movement.
 2. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 1, wherein said buckle is generally toroidally and symmetrically shaped.
 3. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 1, wherein said first vertical constraint is in direct physical contact with said first horizontally extending attachment bracket's primary top horizontal surface.
 4. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 3, wherein said second vertical constraint is in direct physical contact with said first horizontally extending attachment bracket's primary bottom horizontal surface.
 5. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated vertical support shaft is at least partially threaded and said first vertical constraint and said second vertical constraint connect to said at least one elongated vertical support shaft by screwing said first and second vertical constraints onto said at least one elongated vertical support shaft.
 6. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 1, wherein said first vertical constraint is in direct physical contact with said first horizontally extending attachment bracket's primary top horizontal surface and said second vertical constraint is in direct physical contact with said first horizontally extending attachment bracket's primary bottom horizontal surface.
 7. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated vertical support shaft is cylindrical and rigid.
 8. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one hole through said at least one vertically elongated support shaft and wherein at least one of said first vertical constraint and said second vertical constraint is at least partially received in said hole.
 9. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first vertical constraint and said second vertical constraint is a flanged portion of said elongated vertical support shaft.
 10. A vertically varying nautical mooring device, said device comprising: at least one elongated vertical support shaft having at least one hole therethrough, a first horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to a support structure for extending therefrom and said first horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a second horizontally extending attachment bracket attachable to said support structure for extending therefrom and said second horizontally extending attachment bracket having a primary top horizontal surface and a primary bottom horizontal surface, a first vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to said elongated vertical support shaft, a second vertical constraint at least temporarily attached to said elongated vertical support shaft, and wherein said at least one elongated vertical support shaft is supported by said first horizontally extending attachment bracket at a first end of said at least one elongated vertical support shaft and said at least one elongated vertical support shaft is connected to said second horizontally extending attachment bracket at a second end of said at least one elongated vertical support shaft and wherein at least one of said first vertical constraint and said second vertical constraint is at least partially received in said hole to engage said elongated vertical support shaft and said vertical constraints work in concert to restrain said elongated vertical support shaft from vertical movement.
 11. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said first vertical constraint and said second vertical constraint is a hairpin.
 12. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said first vertical constraint and said second vertical constraint is a flanged portion of said elongated vertical support shaft.
 13. The vertically varying nautical mooring device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said first vertical constraint and said second vertical constraint is a flange permanently connected to said elongated vertical support shaft. 